Apple Patents Touch ID Authentication Via Display-Integrated Sensors

The US Patent and Trademark Office published a new Apple patent on February 5th, related to a new fingerprint authentication system, that’s no longer integrated within the Home button, but rather within the display itself.

The invention relates to electronic devices and focuses on one or more fingerprint sensors in a display stack of an electronic device. The screen can include a cover sheet on top of a screen layer and a fingerprint sensor can be included in the display stack too. The sensor will capture a fingerprint image of one or more fingers positioned on a top surface of the cover sheet.

There’s also a piece of the document mentioning the fingerprint sensor attached to a bottom surface of the cover sheet. That way, the screen displays a special icon in that area, that once pressed authenticates the user. The system is linked to MacBooks, iMacs, iPods, iPads and iPhones, plus kiosks and more. Could this mean we’re one step close to iPhones without Home buttons?